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Oxfam in the Philippines

Farmer Trinidad Domingo in her field. The majority of women in the Philippines remain severely marginalised, often because the work they do is either unpaid or unrecognised. Photo: Veejay Villafranca

What we're doing

On 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda as it's known locally) wreaked havoc across much of the central Philippines. More than 5,000 people were killed and 4 million were forced from their homes.

In the short term, it left more than 14.1 million people in need of immediate, life-saving assistance. But it also pushed millions of people further into poverty. Rice crops, coconut trees and fishing boats were wiped out, leaving people struggling to grow food and earn an income.

The emergency phase of our Haiyan response has finished. We're now focussing on long term recovery and rehabilitation. One way we're doing this is by planning how water and sanitation facilities will be managed on a permanent basis. We're also looking at how people will be able to earn a living.

You can help

Snapshot of Oxfam in the Philippines

Photo 1/10photo by: Tom Greenwood

More than 2 million people have been displaced by conflict in the southern region of Mindanao – one of the poorest regions in the Philippines. Oxfam helps women like Noraisa Iskak, to develop sustainable ways of making a living. Here, Noraisa displays a selection of organic fertilisers and pesticides produced by the Oxfam supported women's group of which she's a member.

The impact of our work

I have five children and I used to have to fetch 15 pails of drinking water more than 100 metres away from the home before. Now, with the tubewell constructed near the houses as a source of safe drinking water, I feel protected from waterborne diseases.